WANA (Sep 06) – Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on Saturday night that Tehran is close to reaching an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on a new framework for cooperation. He emphasized that this framework would be based on the law passed by Iran’s Parliament and on-ground realities, ensuring that all concerns reflected in the legislation are fully addressed.

 

Regarding sanctions relief, Araghchi noted that negotiations have been pursued seriously. He explained that before the recent Israeli military attack—later joined by the United States—six rounds of talks had been planned, but the war fundamentally altered the dynamics.

 

“Negotiations are not off the table,” he said, “but they will not be the same as before the war. New concerns and elements have entered the equation, and we must design new strategies and adopt different approaches to address them.”

 

The foreign minister also acknowledged that the attack had direct consequences on Iran’s cooperation with the IAEA: “Our nuclear facilities were targeted, and naturally, cooperation with the Agency cannot continue as before. That is why discussions on a new framework have begun, and the talks in Vienna have gone very well. We are very close to finalizing an agreement.”

 

Araghchi further pointed to ongoing contacts with the three European countries—Germany, France, and the UK—as well as with the EU foreign policy chief. However, he criticized their decision to trigger the dispute resolution mechanism under UN Resolution 2231, commonly referred to as the “snapback” mechanism. “The Europeans made a grave mistake that has made matters more complicated,” he said, while expressing hope for a shared understanding.

 

On relations with Washington, the minister underlined that indirect exchanges through mediators are still taking place: “The day the United States is ready for negotiations based on mutual interests and mutual respect, we will restart the talks.”

 

Araghchi stressed that while the foreign ministry is fully committed to its mission, other branches of government must not wait for diplomatic outcomes: “Just as the armed forces remain constantly prepared to defend the country, the government and other institutions must strengthen domestic resilience and national capabilities without hesitation.”

WANA - IAEA